Housing & Dining

Campus Life - A Time and Place of Growth and Discovery

For many transfer students, the opportunity to live on campus is an important part of the university experience. As an incoming transfer student you’ll enjoy a “dual-citizenship” status that enables you to participate in programs at your affiliated college and the housing community where you live.

Most new transfer students live at the Transfer Community, which is located at Porter College and situated on campus to provide easy access to Services for Transfer and Re-Entry Students (STARS). Incoming transfer students affiliated with any UCSC college are welcome at the Transfer Community.

The Housing Application

When you complete your online housing application you will have the opportunity to rank preferences for various room and theme options. This will give us an idea of the types of housing you are most interested in.

You will also be asked to complete a Lifestyle Questionnaire. Roommate assignments are based on the questionnaire so it is in your best interest to answer the questions as fully, thoughtfully and honestly as possible. Specific roommate requests may be met as long as they are mutual.

Your Housing Experience

Assigning rooms and roommates is not an easy task. Your roommates may or may not become your best friends, but will surely be remembered simply because of the experiences you will share. We will do our best to find you compatible roommates, but please do not assume they will share all your lifestyle preferences. Regardless of where you live, remember one thing: much of what living on campus really offers is what you and students like yourself bring to it.

Your attitude toward, and your enthusiasm for, your new living situation is the real key in determining what your new life will be like. We do promise one thing… given the opportunity, we will do all we can to make you feel welcome and at home.

Living in a Triple Room

Housing Options

At UC Santa Cruz, all students are housed in small-scale residential communities, which provide close-knit, vibrant living/learning environments within the larger university. Live-in student and professional staff members provide orientation, support services, safety and crisis response, and a variety of social, educational, and cultural programs for residents.

Each community is welcoming of transfer students, and seeks to ease their transition to campus life and help them build a strong connection to the campus. The information in this guide will help you learn more about each of these housing options.

Residence Hall Living

Transfer Community and
College Residence Halls

Residence halls have a variety of room types, with triple rooms being most common. The buildings typically house 15 to 50 students per floor and have common bathrooms.

Students can choose between single-gender or mixed-gender residence halls, in which members of any gender live in the same hall or floor. While bedrooms are single-gender, bathrooms may be mixed-gender and are designed to ensure privacy. On single-gender floors, bathrooms are primarily used by people identifying as that gender.

Rooms are furnished. Each resident is provided an extra-long twin bed, a desk, a chair, and storage space such as wardrobe or closet. You will need to bring your own bedding (sheets, pillowcase, etc.), lamp, clock, and other personal items essential to your daily life.

A meal plan is included in the housing contract for students living in the residence halls.

Apartment. A unique living environment composed of both international and domestic students in an apartment/flat style living arrangement. This thriving community of residents from around the world lives and learns together to foster international understanding and form intercultural friendship. Students will have the option to take a 2-unit Intercultural Understanding class in the Fall quarter. Explore your global perspectives! (Supplemental application required). Learn more ».

Transfer Community. This housing option allows those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and other identities within the LGBTQIA+ community as well as allies to live together in an open and supportive environment. (Only available in mixed-gender areas.)

Residence Hall and Apartment. Students of any gender live on the same floor or apartment and share a commitment to cooperative living through respect and consideration for one another. Bedrooms are single-gender while bathrooms may be designated as mixed-gender with private toilet and shower stalls.

Residence Hall and Apartment. R.PAATH: Rosa Parks African American Theme Housing provides a living-learning space for students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of predominantly African American, Black, and Caribbean peoples. Designed to intentionally create space for students to feel connected, safer, and supported in a community centered on the experiences of Black/African American/Caribbean peoples, R.PAATH is available to students of any college affiliation. Students develop cultural competency/cultural intelligence and ally development through organizing, living, studying, and socializing with peers passionate about political, cultural, popular, social, and economic issues of the African Diaspora (supplemental application required). Learn more »

Residence Hall and Apartment. Students of a single gender live on the same floor or apartment (availability is based upon demand). Bathrooms are primarily used by individuals who identify with that gender.

Residence Hall and Apartment. Trans-inclusive Housing areas are intended to create safer and supportive living spaces for transgender, genderqueer, gender nonconforming (GNC), and gender nonbinary (GNB) students, as well as questioning and ally-students. Students may room together regardless of gender. Please note that this room assignment is likely to be on a mixed-gender floor/apartment and all students share common areas (e.g. bathrooms). Students who do not request a roommate(s) on their housing application will be assigned a roommate(s) based on preferences expressed in the housing application and a follow-up correspondence with a housing staff member, if necessary. Only students who indicate an interest will be assigned to Trans-inclusive Housing (supplemental application required). Learn more »

Transfer Community. Students who prefer a residence hall without a theme. Available in mixed-gender and single-gender areas.

Apartment Living

Redwood Grove Apartments

The Redwood Grove apartments are an extension of the Transfer Community at Porter College, and provide an apartment living environment for a limited number of older incoming transfer students. Students must be 23 or older.

Typically shared by five students, each apartment has a living/dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and a combination of shared and private bedrooms. Bedrooms in apartments are furnished the same as in the residence halls.

The common living areas of apartments are furnished and kitchens have ranges, refrigerators, sinks, and cabinets for storage. Residents are responsible for bringing kitchen items such as silverware, pots and pans, and general cookware. eal plans are optional in the apartments.

Redwood Grove Housing Options and Themes

Apartment. A unique living environment composed of both international and domestic students in an apartment/flat style living arrangement. This thriving community of residents from around the world lives and learns together to foster international understanding and form intercultural friendship. Students will have the option to take a 2-unit Intercultural Understanding class in the Fall quarter. Explore your global perspectives! (Supplemental application required). Learn more »

Apartment. This housing option allows those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and other identities within the LGBTQIA+ community as well as allies to live together in an open and supportive environment. (Only available in mixed-gender areas.)

Residence Hall and Apartment. Students of any gender live on the same floor or apartment and share a commitment to cooperative living through respect and consideration for one another. Bedrooms are single-gender while bathrooms may be designated as mixed-gender with private toilet and shower stalls.

Residence Hall and Apartment. R.PAATH: Rosa Parks African American Theme Housing provides a living-learning space for students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of predominantly African American, Black, and Caribbean peoples. Designed to intentionally create space for students to feel connected, safer, and supported in a community centered on the experiences of Black/African American/Caribbean peoples, R.PAATH is available to students of any college affiliation. Students develop cultural competency/cultural intelligence and ally development through organizing, living, studying, and socializing with peers passionate about political, cultural, popular, social, and economic issues of the African Diaspora (supplemental application required). Learn more »

Residence Hall and Apartment. Students of a single gender live on the same floor or apartment (availability is based upon demand). Bathrooms are primarily used by individuals who identify with that gender.

Residence Hall and Apartment. Trans-inclusive Housing areas are intended to create safer and supportive living spaces for transgender, genderqueer, gender nonconforming (GNC), and gender nonbinary (GNB) students, as well as questioning and ally-students. Students may room together regardless of gender. Please note that this room assignment is likely to be on a mixed-gender floor/apartment and all students share common areas (e.g. bathrooms). Students who do not request a roommate(s) on their housing application will be assigned a roommate(s) based on preferences expressed in the housing application and a follow-up correspondence with a housing staff member, if necessary. Only students who indicate an interest will be assigned to Trans-inclusive Housing (supplemental application required). Learn more »

Apartment. Students who prefer an apartment without a theme. Available in mixed-gender and single-gender areas

University Town Center

The University Town Center (UTC) is an additional housing option available to transfer students. The UTC houses students amidst all that downtown Santa Cruz has to offer, including cafés, restaurants, shops, museum, movie theaters, library and more! Residents enjoy two- and three-person studio apartments with private bathrooms and kitchenettes. The UTC is located one block from the Santa Cruz Metro Center with frequent buses to campus. Meal plans are optional at the UTC.

UTC Housing Options and Themes

Apartment. A unique living environment composed of both international and domestic students in an apartment/flat style living arrangement. This thriving community of residents from around the world lives and learns together to foster international understanding and form intercultural friendship. Students will have the option to take a 2-unit Intercultural Understanding class in the Fall quarter. Explore your global perspectives! (Supplemental application required).

Residence Hall and Apartment. Students of any gender live on the same floor or apartment and share a commitment to cooperative living through respect and consideration for one another. Bedrooms are single-gender while bathrooms may be designated as mixed-gender with private toilet and shower stalls.

Residence Hall and Apartment. R.PAATH: Rosa Parks African American Theme Housing provides a living-learning space for students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of predominantly African American, Black, and Caribbean peoples. Designed to intentionally create space for students to feel connected, safer, and supported in a community centered on the experiences of Black/African American/Caribbean peoples, R.PAATH is available to students of any college affiliation. Students develop cultural competency/cultural intelligence and ally development through organizing, living, studying, and socializing with peers passionate about political, cultural, popular, social, and economic issues of the African Diaspora (supplemental application required). Learn more »

Residence Hall and Apartment. Students of a single gender live on the same floor or apartment (availability is based upon demand). Bathrooms are primarily used by individuals who identify with that gender.

Residence Hall and Apartment. Trans-inclusive Housing areas are intended to create safer and supportive living spaces for transgender, genderqueer, gender nonconforming (GNC), and gender nonbinary (GNB) students, as well as questioning and ally-students. Students may room together regardless of gender. Please note that this room assignment is likely to be on a mixed-gender floor/apartment and all students share common areas (e.g. bathrooms). Students who do not request a roommate(s) on their housing application will be assigned a roommate(s) based on preferences expressed in the housing application and a follow-up correspondence with a housing staff member, if necessary. Only students who indicate an interest will be assigned to Trans-inclusive Housing (supplemental application required). Learn more »

UC Santa Cruz Dining

Our dining program is as much a part of your college life and experiences as academics. Students find mealtime an opportunity to meet friends, visit and relax, study, and, of course . . . eat! All students living in campus residence halls have a meal plan included in their housing contract. Meal plans are optional for apartment residents.

With the convenience of five all-you-care-to-enjoy dining halls situated throughout the campus, you’re never far from satisfying your cravings. Your student ID card, which also functions as your meal card and bus pass, may be used at any of the dining halls.

Deliciously Sustainable

We strive each day to prepare delicious, fresh menus throughout breakfast, lunch, and dinner including your in-between hunger attacks! Our ever rotating menus will keep you from getting bored and yet we will look to always keep your favorites available.

Our program is nationally recognized as a leader in sustainability and this means plenty of local and organic selections available to you. A wide selection of vegetarian and vegan options are available throughout the day and night, and we work closely with the campus Student Health Center to develop meals for those with restricted diets. Our staff continually strives to meet your needs.